Introduction
This portfolio is a cumulative body of work drawn from four years of coursework and professional experience. My work in the classroom and as a library assistant has gone hand-in-hand. Everything I have learned in one sphere I have directly applied to the other, and each sphere has benefited. I have numerous examples of this pairing: pathfinders, strategic plans, collection development, websites, training programs, bibliographic maintenance and each reference transaction. With each of these projects and in my professional work I have learned the value and importance of obtaining a MLIS.
My process of reflection began in April 2009, when I began to seriously think about my e-portfolio: what it would look like and what it would contain. From the beginning I was determined to tie in as much of my work experience as I possibly could. I also knew that I wanted to build my own site using Drupal. For the next 10 months I gathered my evidence and learned how to use the Drupal software. By the time the formal E-portfolio process started, I had my evidence matched to the competencies, my website built and was ready to dive into writing.
My E-portfolio website demonstrates my web development skills and my move from exclusively using XHTML and CSS to using open source content management systems for web publishing. Finally this Drupal powered site represents my belief that the there is a dramatic shift occurring in the way libraries market themselves and create portals to their collections online. Library websites are often the first introduction and point of access to information resources for users. Web 2.0 and content management systems are radically improving these portals. By using Drupal to publish my e-portfolio, I am demonstrating my willingness to embrace and investigate emerging technologies as pertains to library services.
This site represents the very personal aspects of creating a portfolio of one's achievements. The process of writing and structuring my statements was deeply contemplative, which included examining the competency, reviewing course readings, revisiting, evaluating and selecting evidence and examining the value of that competency in my professional life. With each of my statements I first discuss the importance of the competency to the profession in general and then apply the competency to the specifics of my work in libraries. Next I introduce and describe each piece of evidence, reflect on what I learned and how I've been able to apply the competency to that work. Each piece of evidentiary work was carefully selected to represent the best of my work. In my conclusions, I describe my goals for applying the competencies to my future work in academic libraries.
I greatly appreciate the opportunity I've had to create a portfolio of my achievements. It was a fantastic opportunity to take reflect on all that I've achieved in my master's work and in my profession work. And to appreciate my ability to rise to any challenge and succeed, while managing a full time job with part time course work. My portfolio of work has also revealed to me where my greatest interests and strengths as a librarian are: teaching, public services and technology.